December 31, 2010

We spent some time yesterday with Kiwi friends on s/v Vivacious (Roger & Michelle) and m/v Yankee (Colin, Barbara & Steve). The Southwest wind forecast is 20 knots gusting 30 so a bunch of boats will take off for Great Barrier Island we hope. We want the first group to pass through there before we head on over or else it would be like Desolation Sound B.C. on an August weekend.
Cheers & Love from New Zealand

December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas everyone! It's now December 26th, Boxing Day, here in New Zealand. On Friday we took Warm Rain up the Maharangi River and tied to the Visitor's Mooring at Sandspit. We rowed ashore where our friend, Russ, was waiting for us in his Ute. We packed the Ute with food, gifts, clothes and two weeks' worth of dirty laundry. Russ thought we were moving in!

We've spent the most wonderful three days with Russ & Florence just hanging out, celebrating the holidays with their families and friends. I hope everyone had as wonderful of a holiday as we have had. We're truly blessed with good health, wonderful family and friends. Merry Christmas to all!

December 22, 2010

Today we are in Mansion House Bay on lovely Kawau island. Russ caught up with us in Tutukaka and we progressed south from there to Whangaeri after a 2 hour stop in Tutukaka. Our trip down from Whangaeri was very nice with North wind and waves helping us make good time. Tomorrow we head to Sandspit where Russ has arranged a mooring that we can stay on for 3 nights. Christmas is fast approaching and we will spend it with Russ, Florence and his Daughter Kim's family in Sandspit. Today there are only 2 boats in the Bay, after Boxing Day, Dec 26th, it will be full so we feel very lucky to be here on such a sunny day.

This is the view of Mansion House from the bay:

There are many exotic birds wandering around on the island, including peacocks. This peacock wandered into the patio of the cafe where we were having tea and treated us to a full showing of his plumage:

December 18, 2010

For all our friends back home emailing us that they are wishing they were here in the warm sunlight rather than the cold rain I have some news. For the last week we have been cruising up and down the coast of New Zealand in hard downpour rain and fog. The good thing about it is that it is "Warm Rain" the kind you don't mind getting wet in. Today we pulled in Whangaruru in 31.5 knots of wind "On the Beak" as they say here. We are tucked up into the north part of the bay and will stay here a couple of days before moving south to Tutukaka. It was blowing 30 knots there this morning but all this nasty weather is supposed to clear starting Tuesday evening.

December 16, 2010

After 2 lovely days in Whangaroa Harbour we sailed past Cape Brett to Whangamumu Harbour. Here we will stay 2 days before moving on to Whangaruru Harbour. I'm not making these Maori names up, honest. I'll have to ask the locals what "whanga" means in Mouri because they sure use it a lot. Whangaroa was like being in a Fjord, Kiwi style without the snow. We will slowly move down the coast so our Kiwi friend Russ can catch up with us in has boat prior to going to Warkworth for Christmas.

December 13, 2010

Not a big move today but very nice and protected in Opunga Cove. Here we will wait out the expected foul weather that is coming. Dawn cooked up a large batch of spaghetti yesterday so we are ready for the next 3 days of rain. We spent yesterday at Roberton Island and got a chance to see the bird nesting areas and walked some of the hiking trails.

December 11, 2010

Goodbye Opua. All the fuel tanks are full, all water tanks are full, garbage dumped, food on board, many goodbye's given, last pictures taken. Tomorrow we slip the mooring and say goodbye for good to our home base for the last 3 years here in New Zealand. I don't expect any dry eyes tomorrow morning as we sail away.

December 05, 2010

We dropped the mooring yesterday and went out into The Bay of Islands. This is the premo cruising area for NZ cruisers. After a wonderful day/night on Roberton Island with a picnic and hike with boats from the Island Cruising Association we are now in Pipi Bay for the night. It looks a lot like boating in BC which makes us feel good.

December 03, 2010

We've been hanging out on our mooring just outside the Opua Marina for a week now and love it! We spent the past two seasons tied up in a slip in the marina but decided to try the mooring for awhile. It's quiet and the scenery is beautiful. We're gently rocked to sleep at night but don't have to worry about the anchor dragging. The yacht club here races twice a week and the fleet whizzes by on their way to the starting line - fun to watch. It's only a two minute dinghy ride into the marina when we want to stretch our legs, do laundry or shop. Tomorrow (Sunday) we'll head out to a nearby island for some fun with the Island Cruising Association. Stay tuned.